The meeting point for twelve of us was Station Road. We then walked over the footbridge to Sheepway. We peered over the bridge at the Portishead railway line, noting that the old rails have now been taken up – looks like progress. Once off the road we passed a distant field of corvids, pronounced by Alan with his faithful scope to be mostly Rooks (50) with a few Jackdaws. Crows were around too, high on trees, but in small numbers. Redwings and tits showed spasmodically, and a Kestrel appeared. Once out on the sea wall, sharp eyes spotted a line of Canada Geese (27) among the reeds bordering Royal Portbury Dock, and some Shelducks flew over the marsh. From the hides overlooking the North pool we could see 30 Wigeon clustered on the end of the island, some Shovelers at the back of the pool, a couple of Lapwing, and a solitary Little Grebe on the right hand channel. At the South hide the low winter sun brought out the colours and four sleek Roe Deer were seen quite close, blending in beautifully with the reeds. We lacked Snipe (maybe too wet?) but there were two pairs of Gadwall close to the bank. Walking back along the road we admired (!) a group of House Sparrows perched in the sunshine. Very many thanks to Alan for the count and the route/hiking information – 43 species. Judy Copeland